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Background The skin is the largest organ of the human body and corresponds to the first line of defense against external aggression. The extent and the commitment of organ and tissue will depend on the severity and intensity of trauma. The regeneration and healing are two processes that compose the restoration of tissues. It is a complex process involving a number of cellular and molecular events, as well as biochemical and physiological phenomena. The process of healing by secondary intention occurs in tissue repair in wounds with a higher degree of injury (injuries that may involve the subcutaneous tissue, muscle or bone). A range of biomaterials have been used in an attempt to incorporate substances that facilitate the process of tissue repair, especially the collagen to be biocompatible and not immunogenic. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) has been used in various types of injuries and different stages of the healing process. Therefore, this study aims to develop, characterize and physically evaluate the effect of collagen films containing EFAs on wound healing of second intention. The cicatricial part has already generated paper in Acta Cirurgica Brasileira, vol.28 no.5 Sao Paulo May 2013 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-86502013000500005).

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of fatty acids-incorporated collagen-based dressing films on wound healing in rodents. METHODS: Therefore, surgical wounds were performed in the back of 80 Wistar rats, and dressed with collgane-based films (COL), and collagen-based films containing fatty acids (AGEF50 and AGEF100). Undressed wounds were regarded as controls (CTR). The animals were euthanized after three, seven, 14 and 21 days, and the macroscopic wound contraction rates (WRC) were assessed. The wounded area was also analyzed by conventional and polarized light microscope. RESULTS: No sign of abscess or hypertrophic scar formation was observed in none of the groups. At seven days, the WRR of AGEF50 was significantly higher than CTR (p